Vibrator



Feb. 10, 1942. R. H. SULLIVAN 2,272,855

VIBRATOR Filed April e, 19:59

LA' ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1942 u VIBRATOR- Y ARaymond H.Sullivan', Rochester, N. Y., assignor i to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, vMich.,

.a corporationof Delaware 1 Application April s, 1939 serial-no fassnazy Y' 22 Claims. (Cl. 1-75-3'73) 4 This inventionrelatesdirectfcurrent'voltage converting systems in which a vibryatory currentv flow of low voltage direct current to the primary circuits of atransformerzfrom thesecondary of which is supplied a higher voltagealternating current which is rectified either by a tubefrecti- Vfier orby means of an additional set o f contacts More particularly, thepresent in the vibrator. linvention relates to improvements in the.vibra.-l tor, whether it be non-rectifying for use in a systememployinga tube rectier or whether it be a self-rectifying vibratorfwhichrectifies the..l

small magnetic -retarding action becausefthe contacts which shortcircuittfhe electromagnet do interrupter is used to controltheintermittent .not open .untiltheair gap between the `armature and thepole face :is relatively large and therealternating .current from` thetransformer sec.

ondary. Inneither case, thevibrator is of the .type comprising acontactcarryingreed carrying, atits free-end, an armature which swingsparallel to andY past the pole face of the reed actuatv ingelectromagnet of the vibraton 'I'he reed carries two contacts onvopposite sidesv thereof which alternately engage, respectively, twospaced side contacts connected 'withequal sections ofA the transformerlprimary. The reed. .normally stands between the two side'contacts.' When,the

reed operating magnet is closed byconnecting it with a low voltagecurrent source, the reed arcuiting of the reed magnet..".l'hereafterfrthe reed swings in the opposite direction to openthe'shortVV circuit ofthe electromagnet 'and to close the other pair ofcontacts controlling the other half of the transformer primary.

In the conventional form of vibrator wherein; the armature swingsbackand forth past the pole face of the electromagnet, it must -swingpast the magnetic center.

The result is that the'arma-v I 'ture when moving in the attracteddirection is-` accelerated until it reachesith'e magnetic center.-v

fore the pull issniall Vcompared to the momentum of the armature. Theflux in the electromagnet core takes time to build up, therefore ithelps Y this condition. The armature then reaches the peak of `its swingand by that timethe electro- -magnet `has' become fully en ergised'andexerts a pull on the-armature and the complete cycle is repeated. n

It will beseen that since the armature is both accelerated and partiallyretarded when, moving in its attracted-,direction and'free of any suchrestraint when moving in itsopposite direction,

.the forcesi-n the two directions are unsymmetrical.- VAs thetiming'of"thewtransformerused with with a vibrator is fixed by theinductance-capacityrelation, it isfvery desirable that the vibratorcontacts close at a point where the voltage acrossthemisvzeroonbelow:avalue which will cause destructive action.-;In orderto do this in the conventionalforms of; vibrator, ithasbeen the practiceto adjust the gaps in; the contacts on opposite sides of the .reed todifferent dimensions.

The gap between the contacts which short cir- ,cuitl the electromagnet,and which due to the retarding action o n the reedxoutlined above, is

- closed `for a shorter period `than the `other contact gap, isadjustedcloser.-thanthe latterV gap. For a given vibratorf-designvthereis a definite Y maximum.v gapvfor the contactswhichoperate theelectromagnet .-(by shunting) yand this is determlned by the `startingvoltage desired. `From this point on, the other contacts should beadjusted .to 'approximately the same gap opening as those. which operatethe electromagnet. This condition cannot alwaysnbe obtained and theformer contacts usually have to have a wider gap than the'latter. Itoftentimes happens that when Its momentum then carries itfpast thiscenten cuit this cOiL'b-ut does so some' time afterwards,

result is that the'ilux remaining inthe electro- The contacts whichshort circuit the electro- ;l magnet con are-*closed atsome point whichis subject to adjustment, but which is generally just s before thearmatureY reaches the Amagnetic cenvavihrator'has been adjusted inaccordance with this procedure it '.developswhat we call single footing.at certain applied battery voltages, usually about 5.5 volts. e Thisconditionvi'scaused by the reed swing being sufficient to close thecondepe'r'ldent on the electrical time constant. The

magnet core tendstoreta'rd the movement of the armature after it passesthe l'magnetic' center.

The armature continuesv ,itsiswinguntil Vthe stored energy in the 'reedbalances A'the' tensionin thefspringend the armature "thenbe'gins, itsreverse swings past the pole face without/anyorvery of the lectromagnet.

tacts which shunt out the electromagnet coil,

.but insufficient to close the other contacts. The

-`tion for-this-fcondition is to reduce the gap in those contacts whichdo not control the operation troubleis 4ofte'nj experiencedv due tothefact that theftimingis` disturbed andI thecontactsclose at a time' whenthe voltage across them is toov great, and lduetto the very lowresistance o f the .'circuit, heavy currents will lflow through thecontacts. The contacts oftentimes stick' due to this'condi- In doingthis, however,

tion and obviously cause early failure of the vibrator. It will be seenfrom the foregoing explanation that the adjustments are quite critical.

The wider the gaps, the lower becomes the eiliciency of the wholesystem. It is therefore very advantageous to obtain gaps of equalopenings. The object of the invention described hereinafter is toprovide a construction which permits both contact gaps to be adjustedequally and also appears to simplify and make easier the adjustment ofvibrators. If the reed can be retarded on its swing away from theelectromagnet, then by controlling the amount of this retarding action.the swing of the reed can be made symmetrical to the normal or at restposition of the reed. When this condition is attained, then both contactgaps can be made equal with the result that the eiTlciency can beincreased, This is at present accomplished by securing a retard orbuffer spring member to the side of the reed opposite to that whichreceives the pull of the electromagnet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of an apparatus embodying the principles ofthe present invention shown in conjunction with a transformer and shownin its normal position. .f

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a vibrator showing the features of theinvention and in the attracted position.

Fig. 3 is a view of the device in its unattracted position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the reed structure with all parts assembledthereto.

Fig, 5 is a plan view of a bumper spring carried by the reed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a contact element carried by the reed.

Fig, 7 is a plan view of thereed with all of its component partsremoved.

Referring to the drawing, a vibrator comprises a magnetic frame bentinto U-shape with a yoke 2| and arms 22 and 23. A core 24 is formedintegral with the frame and is punched from a portion of the arm 23 andthe yoke 2|, the free end forming a pole face 25. The core is locatedbetween the arms 22 and 23 around which is a magnetizing coil 26disposed between two insulating discs 28. The coil and discs are held inan assembled relation by a metallic sleeve 21 which has its ends 21aspun over respective discs 28. The assembly is held firmly against theyoke by deforming the free end of the pole face providing a narrowportion 25a and a rivet portion 24a. The rivet portion is forced againstthe upper spun-over portion 21a of the sleeve to hold the whole coilassembly firmly against the Disposed between the free end of the arms 22and 23 is a stack which includes metal spacer plates 30. insulatingmembers 3| of suitable design, vibrating reed 35 of spring steel orbronze and contact springs 36 and 31. The reed is located between twometal plates 30, while the springs 36, 31 are each disposed between twoinsulating members 3|. The free end of the spring members 36 and 31carry relative stationary contacts 38 and 39 respectively.

The stack is adapted to be clamped rigidly between the arm 22, 23 by abolt 4| and a nut .I

41a. In order to resist short-circuiting by the bolt, an insulating tube42 surrounds the bolt 4| between the arms 22 and 23. It is to beunderstood that each element of the stack is provided With suitableapertures or notches to receive the tube 42. Tightening of the `nut 4Iaon the bolt 4| draws up the stack to hold the entire construction tight.

The vibratory reed 35 is of the cantilever type and is preferably formedso that it will have the desired flexing characteristics along itslength beyond the supported end and which will permit the use of thereed of relatively small dimensions.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the preferred form of reed elementsare shown. The reed 35 is of suitable resilient material, such as springsteel or bronze. The reed 35 has an anchor portion 43 provided with anaperture 44 therein to receive the tube 42, a transverse opening or slot45 adjacent the anchor portion, a longitudinal opening 46 spaced fromthe transverse opening 45 and an end portion 41. The end portion 41 isthe movable end of the reed 35. The purposes for the openings 45 and 46,respectively, are to facilitate the starting of the reed into vibration,and to permit greater freedom of vibration. The end portion 41 carriesan armature 48. The armature is secured to the end portion 41 by rivets49 which projects through aligned apertures provided in the end 41 andthe armature 48. It is to Abe understood that the armature could beattached to the end portion in any suitable manner, such as by spotWelding.

A U-shaped buffer or retard spring 50 having arms 5| and a pair ofT-shaped spring members 52 and 53 are assembled on the reed 35 by rivets54 (see Fig. 1). The bufferl spring 50 is located between the contactspring 52 and the reed 35. The spring being held in a superposedrelation with respect to the reed. The free ends of the arms 5| extendtoward the free end of the reed and rests on the metal of the reedopposite the opening 46 and is located on the side of the reed oppositeto the magnetic pull of the electromagnet. Spring members 52 and 53have, respectively, central arms 56 which are bent slightly toward eachother so that they will extend within the opening 46 as clearly shown inFig. 1. The free ends of the springs 52 and 53 carry movable contacts 58and 59, respectively; and thus provide a pair of aligned movablecontacts. These contacts 58 and 59 are adapted to engage the relativestationary contacts 38 and 39, respectively.

Referring to Fig. l there is shown diagrammatically a transformer Thaving a primary P, a core C, and a secondary S, which has its centertap grounded. A timing condenser R is connected across the ends of thesecondary S. The end leads of secondary S are connected with a rectifier(not shown) from which pulsating unidirectional current is passedthrough a lter and then through a work circuit such as the plate circuitof a radio receiver. The primary winding P is divided into two primarywinding Pi and Pz, to provide a mid-point for the primary P. Thismid-point of the primary is connected to one side of a battery B. Theother side of the battery is connected to a switch 60 connected inseries with the reed end 12 by a lead 6|. The coil 26 has one endthereof connected to one side of the primary P1 by a lead 64. The otherend of the coil 26 is connected to the lead wire 6| by a wire 65.

The system shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1

' operates as follows: When the switch 60 is closed current will flowfrom the battery to switch 60, wire 65, coil 26, wire 64 to one end ofthe primary P1 back to battery. This will energize the coil 26 formingan electromagnet of the core 24 which will attract the armature 48 andcause same to move to the right as shown in Fig. 2. When this occurs themovable Contact 59 carried by the reed 35 will engage the relativelystationary contact 39. When the contacts close the coil 26 isshort-circuited through the lead 6l. As shown in Fig. 2, when the reedis attracted the buffer or retard spring 50 ls inoperative, since thereed 35 recedes from the free ends of arm of the retard spring 50.

When the armature is attracted, the armature must pass the magneticcenter. Thus when the armature is moving in the attracted position it isaccelerated until it reaches the magnetic center after which themomentum of the armature carries it past the center. The contact 39 isso positioned that the contact 59 will engage the contact 39 just beforethe armature reaches the magnetic center to short circuit the coil 26.The flux in the core 24 does not diminish to zero immediately thecontacts 59, 39 short circuit the coil 26. Therefore, the flux remainingin the core tends to retard the movement of the armature 48 after itpasses the magnetic center, but the armature continues its swing untilthe stored energy in the reed balances the tension in the spring member31. By making the pole face narrow, as at 25a, the retarding effect dueto diminishing flux is greatest just where the armature leaves the poletip. By the time the reed has completed its swing the flux in theelectromagnet will have decreased to zero and the armature 48 swingspast the pole face 25 toward the left to the position shown in Fig. 3,so that the contact 58 will engage contact 38. As soon as contact 59separates from contact 39 the coil 26 is again energized so that themagnet begins to reassert its pull on the armature 49 to move the reedto the right. The opening of the contacts does not occur until theaverage air gap between the armature and the pole face is relativelylarge; therefore, the pull of the electromagnet is small compared to themomentum of the armature, since it takes time for the flux in theelectromagnet core to build up. In order that the swing of the reedbeyond normal position to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1 issubstantially equal to that toward the right from the position shown inFig. 1 the buffer spring 50 is utilized to retard the swing of the reedto the left.

When the reed 35 is on its swing away.from the electromagnet, the reedis retarded by the free ends 5| of the buffer spring 50 after the reedis well on its swing toward the left and until it reaches the end of itsswing as shown in Fig. 3. The buffer spring 50 is then effective to urgethe reed 35 through a portion of its travel to the right, as viewed inthe drawing, when it is again moved toward its attracted position. y

When the contact 58 engages contact 38, a ow of current will be directedthrough the half Pz of the primary P but in a direction opposite to theow of current in the primary P1. Vibration of the reed 35 between themember 31 and 36 will therefore result in the establishment ofalternating magnetic flux threading through the secondary winding S ofthe transformer. This produces an alternating current which can berectied by a tube rectifier or by rectifying contacts controlled by thereed.

By this arrangement of the buffer spring 50, the reed can be retardedduring its movement away from the electromagnet so that the swing can bemade symmetrical to the normal position of the reed. When this conditionis attained both contact gaps can be made equal or approximately so withthe result that the eiciency converting system is increased.

The ends 5i of spring 50 can be readily bent with pliers to vary theforce and also the time of application on the reed swing cycle. It hasbeen found by actual test with an oscilloscope that in this way the waveform of the output current or voltage can be made symmetrical. With asymmetrical wave form and proper adjustment of the contacts, which byactual test is easily attained using this invention, the chances of thecontacts closing at any other than a minimum voltage are rather remote.Tests which have been conducted on a vibrator using a reed made inaccordance with the present invention indicate that an increasedoperating life will be obtained over that of conventional vibrators.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A vibratory circuit lnterrupter for use in a D. C. converter systemcomprising the combination of a vibratory reed; contacts supported bythe reed; side contacts alternately engageable re.- spectively with thecontacts of the reed and spaced therefrom in the normal position of thereed; an armature supported by the reed; an electromagnet having a polepiece past which the armature swings in approximate parallelismtherewith; circuit connections including a winding of the electromagnetadapted to be connected in parallel with a pair of contacts, includingone of the reed contacts and one of the side contacts. which are engagedas a pair during movement| of the armature toward the pole piece due tomagnetic attraction, the engagement of said pair of contacts shuntingthe electromagnet winding, whereby the flux of the electromagnet beginsto decay while the armature continues to move in the same direction andpast the pole piece, the decay of magnetic flux serving to retardmovement of the armature in said direction, the resiliency of the reedpermitting it to bend and thus to store energy therein which effectsmovement of the reed in the opposite direction to close the other pairof contacts of th vibrator; and resilient mechanical means attached toan intermediate portion of reed for retarding movement of the armatureand reed when same moves past the normal position in said oppositedirection whereby the movement of the reed is symmetrical in respect toits normal position.

2. A vibratory circuit interrupter for use in a D. C. converter systemcomprising the combination of a vibratory reed; contacts supported bythe reed; side contacts alternately engageable respectively with thecontacts of the reed and spaced threfrom in the normal position of thereed; an armature supported by the reed; an electromagnet having a polepiece past which the armature swings in approximate parallelismtherewith; circuit connections including a winding of the electromagnetadapated to be connected in parallel with a pair of contacts, includingone of the reed contacts and one of the side contacts, which are engagedduring movement of the amature toward the pole piece due to magneticattraction, the engagement of said pair of contacts shunting theelectromagnet winding, whereby the flux of the electromagnet begins todecay while the armature continues to move in the same direction andpast the pole piece, the decay of magnetic flux serving to retardmovement of thearmature in said direction, the resiliency of the reedpermitting it to bend and thus to store energy therein which eiectsmovement of the reed in the opposite direction to close the other pairof contacts of the vibrator; and resilient means carried by the reed forretarding movement of the amature and reed when same moves past theirnormal position in said opposite direction.

3. A vibratory circuit interrupter for use in a D. C. converter systemcomprising the combination of a vibratory reed; contacts supported bythe reed; side contacts alternately engageable respectively with thecontacts of the reed and spaced therefrom in the normal position of thereed; an armature supported by the reed; an electromagnet having a polepiece past which the armature swings in approximate parallelismtherewith; circuit connections including a winding of the electromagnetadapted to be connected in parallel with a pair of contacts, includingone of the reed contacts and one of the side contacts, which are engageddui ing movement of the armature toward the pole piece due to magneticattraction, the engagement of said pair of contacts shunting theelectromagnet winding,whereby the flux of the electromagnet begins todecay while the armature continues to move in the same direction andpast the pole piece, the decay of magnetic flux serving to retardmovement of the armature in said direction, the resiliency of the reedpermitting it to bend and thus to store energy therein which effectsmovement of the reed in the opposite direction to close the other pairof contacts of the vibrator; and a retarding spring carried by the reedand located on the side of the reed opposite to that which receives thepull cf the electromagnet, said retarding spring being effective onlywhen the reed moves past its normal position whereby the swing of thereed and armature is symmetrical to its normal position.

4. A vibratory circuit interrupter for use in a direct current convertersystem comprising the combination of a vibratory reed having atransverse cut out portion anda longitudinal elongated cut out portion;contacts supported by the reed; side contacts alternately engageablerespectively with the contacts of the reed and spaced therefrom in thenormal position of the reed; an armature supported by the reed; anelectromagnet having a pole piece provided with a narrow pole face pastwhich the armature swings in approximate parallelism therewith; circuitconnections including a coil of the electromagnet adapted to beconnected in parallel with a pair of contacts including one of the reedcontacts and one of the side contacts, which are engaged during movementof the armature toward the pole piece due to magnetic attraction uponenergization of the coil, the engagement of said pair of contactsshunting the coil, whereby the flux of the electromagnet begins to decaywhile the armature continues to move in the same direction and past thenarrow pole face, the decay of 'the magnetic flux serving to retard themovement of the armature in said direction, the resiliency of the reedpermitting it to bend and thus store energy therein which effectsmovementoi the reed in the opposite direction to close the other pair ofcontacts of the vibrator; a resilient U-shaped member having a pair ofarms; means for securing the U-shaped member to the reed between theslots and so arranged that the arms straddle the elongated cut-outportion with the free ends of arms normally engaging portions of thereed opposite the longitudinal slot, said arms retarding the movement ofthe reed in said opposite direction when the reed moves past its normalposition whereby the swing of the reed is symmetrical to its normalposition.

5. In a vibratory circuit breaker the combination of a frame having amagnetizable pole piece provided with a narrow pole face thereon; amagnetizing coil therefor; a reed mounted on the frame and having anarmature adjacent the pole face for swinging past the pole face;contacts carried by the reed; relative stationary contacts carried bythe frame and spaced from the reed contact in the normal position of thereed; circuit connections between the contacts and the coil foractuating the reed in one direction upon circuit energization to closeone set of contacts to shunt the coil, the resiliency of the reedpermitting the momentum of the armature due to magnetic attraction tobend the reed and store energy thereon, the decaying flux in theelectromagnet retarding the movement of the reed in said one directionsaid stored energy effecting movement of the reed in the oppositedirection to open said contact `and close the other set of contacts ofthe vibrator; and resilient means carried by the reed for retarding themovement of the reed past its normal position in said opposite directionwhereby the movement of the reed is symmetrical with respect to itsnormal position.

6. In a vibratory circuit interrupter the combination of a vibratoryreed; a contact supported by the reed; a relative stationary contactengageable with the contact of the reed and spaced therefrom in thenormal position of the reed: an armature supported by the reed; anelectromagnet having a pole piece past which the armature swings; amagnetizing coil for the pole piece; circuit connections between thecoil and reed contact whereby the reed and armature will move in onedirection upon energization of the coil` to close the contacts, theengagement of the contacts short circuiting the coil; to permit thedecaying flux in the electromagnet to retard the movement of the reed insaid one direction; the stored energy in the reed operating the reed andarmature to move in the opposite direction; and resilient means carriedby the reed for retarding movement of the reed in the opposite directionafter it reaches its normal position and eective at the end of swing ofthe reed in said opposite direction to urge initially the reed in saidone direction.

7. In a circuit nterrupter the combination of a vibrating reed adaptedto have one end thereof move in an arcuate path; electrical means foractuating the reed in one direction; and cooperating means carried bythe reed, said means being eiective upon movement of the reed in theopposite direction following attraction to restrain the movement of thereed in said opposite direction and effective at the completion ofmovement in the opposite direction for urging the reed through a portiononlyin said one direction.

8. In a circuit interrupter the combination comprising a vibrating reedadapted to have one end thereof move in an arcuate path; electricalmeans for attracting the reed in one direction; and yieldable meanscarried by the reed for dampening a portion of the movement of the reedbeyond its normal position in the opposite direction followingattraction and effective at the end of said movement for urging the reedthrough a portion only in said rst mentioned direction.

9. In a circuit interrupter the combination comprising, la flatresilient reed adapted to be supported at one end having a normalposition and adapted to have one end thereof move in one arcuate path; afiat spring member secured at one end to the intermediate portion of thereed and having its free end extending toward the free end of the reed;an electromagnet connected in a circuit, said electromagnet adapted toattract periodically the reed in one direction to swing the reed andmove the reed away from the free end of the spring member, the free endof the spring engaging an intermediate portion of the reed when the reedis well on its swing in the opposite direction, to retard said swingwhereby the swing of the reed is symmetrical to its normal position.

10. In a circuit interrupter the combination of a vibrating reed adaptedto have one end thereof move in an arcuate path on both sides of anormal position; contacts carried by the reed; a cooperating stationarycontact disposed on lopposite sides of the reed contacts; electricalmeans connected in a circuit for attracting the reed in one direction toclose a set of contacts and shunting the electrical means whereby the uxof the electrical means begins to decay as the reed continues itsmovement in said one direction, the decay of the fiux retarding themovement of the reed in said one direction; and resilient mechanicalmeans carried by the reed in superposed relation, said means beingeffective following attraction for' retarding the movement of the reedin the opposite direction after the reed has moved past its normalposition in said opposite direction, whereby the movements of the reedin both directions are symmetrical with respect to its normal position.

11. In a vibrator the combination comprising, a frame having a polepiece provided with a pole face; a magnetizing coil therefor; a reedmounted on the frame and having an armature adjacent the pole piece forvibration along the face of the pole piece; a contact carried by thereed; a. cooperating contact carried by the frame; circuit connectionsbetween the coil and the reed contact; circuit connections between thecoil and the stationarycontact; means for connecting the coil with acurrent source whereby energization of the coil will cause the reed andarmature to move in one direction due to magnetic attraction to closethe contacts and shunt the coil, the decay of magnetic ux operating toretard the movement of the armature in said one direction, theresiliency of the spring permitting is to bend and store energy thereinand upon completion of the swing of the reed the stored energy in thereed operating to move the reed in the opposite direction to separatethe contacts; and spring means carried by the reed for retarding themovement of the reed in said opposite direction only after the reed ispast its normal position, whereby said swing 'of the reed on both sidesof its normal position is symmetrical.

l2. In a vibrator the combination comprising a frame having amagnetizing pole piece provided with a pole face thereon; a magnetizingcoil therefor; a reed mounted on the frame and having an armatureadjacent the pole for `vibration along the face of the pole piece; acontact carried by the reed; a cooperating stationary Contact carried bythe frame; circuit connections between the coil and the reed contact;circuit connections between the coil and stationary contact; means forconnecting the coil with a current source whereby energization of thecoil will cause the reed and armature to move in one direction due tomagnetic attraction to close the contacts and shunt the coil, the decayof magnetic flux operating to retard the movement of the reed in thatdirection, the resiliency of the reed permitting it to bend and storeenergy therein and upon completion of the reed swing the stored energyoperating to move. the reed in the opposite direction to open thecontacts; and spring means carried by the reed for retarding themovement of the reed in said opposite direction only after it passes itsnormal position whereby the swing of the reed is symmetrical to itsnormal position.

13. A vibratory reed construction comprising a resilient reed and a fiatspring attached at one end to an intermediate portion of the reed insuperposed relation; electrical means adapted for attracting the reed inone direction causing the intermediate portion to leave the free end ofthe flat spring, said free end engaging the intermediate portion of thereed upon movement of the reed in the opposite direction whereby theswing of the reed is symmetrical with respect to its normal position;and electrical contacts controlled by the movements of the reed in bothdirections.

14. A reed mechanism for an electrical system comprising a resilientreed and a U-shaped flat spring member; means for securing the springmember to the reed in superposed relation; means for supporting the reedin a neutral position; electrical means adapted to pull the resilientreed in one direction and away from the free ends of the arms of thespring member, the free end of the arms engaging an intermediate portionofthe resilient reed upon movement of the reed past its normal positionin the opposite direction following the attraction thereof by theelectrical means, said spring operating t0 retard the movement of thereed in said opposite direction whereby the swing of the reed issymmetrical with respect to its normal position.

15. A vibratory reed construction comprising a resilient reed; means forsupporting the reed in a neutral position; a buffer spring xed at oneend to the reed in superposed relation below the supporting means;electrical means for attracting the reed in one direction from itsnormal position to control a pair of contacts, the engagement of saidcontacts causing an intermediate portion of the reed to leave the freeend of the buffer spring, the free end of the buffer spring engagingVthe intermediate portion of the reed upon movement of the reed in theopposite direction following attraction to restrain the movement of thereed in said opposite direction, whereby the swing of the reedsymmetrical with respect to its normal position; and

another pair of electrical contacts controlled by the movement of theresilient reed in said opposite directions.

16. A reed mechanism comprising a long re silient member adapted to besupported at one end and a short resilient member; means for supportingone end of the short resilient member intermediate the ends of the longresilient member and in superposed relation; electrical means forperiodically drawing the free end of the long resilient members in onedirection with the long member leaving the free end of the short memberafter the long resilient member is on its swing past a neutral positionin said one direction whereby energy is stored in said member, saidstored energy effecting movement of the long member in the oppositedirection the free end of the short resilient member engaging the longmember and for retardng the movement of the long member in the directionand effective in the completion of the swing in said opposite directionto urge the long member in said one direction; and contacts on each sideof the long resilient member controlled by the vibratory movements ofthe long resilient member. y

17. In a circuit interrupter the combination of a vibrating reed adaptedto have one end anchored to a support and having theother end move in anarcuate path; electrical -means for actuating the reed in one directionto control a pair of contacts; and resilient means carried by the reedbelow the anchoring point for dampening a portion of the movement of thereed in the opposite direction whereby the movement of the reed issymmetrical with respect to its normal position, said resilient meansbeing effective and the end of movement of the reed in said oppositedirection for urging the reed through a portion only in said onedirection 18. A vibratory reed mechanism comprising in combination aresilient reed, contacts supported on each side of the reed, means forsupporting one end of the reed; an armature carried by the reed at thefree end thereof; a resilient member supported by the reed intermediatethe supporting means and the armature, side contacts supported relativeto the reed and normally spaced from the contacts on the reed; anelectro-magnet adapted to pull periodically the armature in onedirection causing one of the reed contacts to engage one of the sidecontacts during the movement of the reed in said one direction, theengagement of said contact permitting the reed to bend below thesupporting means of the resilient member and move away from the free endof the resilient member and thus store energy therein which effectsmovement of the reed in the opposite direction following the attractionof the armature by the electro-magnet, causing the other contact of thereed to engage another side contact, said free end of the resilientmember engaging the reed on its movement in the opposite direction afterthe reed passes its normal position to retard the movement of the reedwhereby swing of the reed is symmetrical to its normal position.

19. A vibratory circuit interrupter comprising a resilient leaf springadapted to be fixed at one end and having the other end free to move inan arcuate path, said spring having an aperture therein and having anintegral bridging portion extending across the aperture; a buffer springlocated on one side of the leaf and having surface to surface contactengagement with the bridging portion and portions of the leaf springdefining the aperture toward the free end of the leaf springra contacton each side of the leaf spring; and means for securing the contacts andthe buffer spring t0 the bridging portion.

20. A vibratory circuit interrupter comprising a resilient leaf springadapted to be xed at one end and having the other end free to move in anarcuate path, said spring having an aperture therein and having a crosspiece secured to the leaf spring for bridging the aperture; a U-shaperesilient member located on one side of the leaf spring with the armsthereof extending toward the free end of the leaf spring, said armsbeing effective to dampen the movement of the leaf spring in onedirection; a conducting member carrying a contact disposed between themarginal walls of the aperture; and common means for attaching theconducting member and the U-shaped member to the cross piece.

2l. A vibratory circuit interrupter comprising a resilient leaf springadapted `to be fixed at one end and having the other end free to move inan arcuate path, said leaf spring having spaced apertures to provide asupporting portion beyond the end of the leaf spring adapted to be xed;a retarding spring located on one side of the leaf spring, said springhaving arms extending toward the free end of the leaf spring with thefree end thereof engaging side portions of the leaf spring defining theaperture nearest the free end of the leaf spring, said arms beingeffective to retard the movement of the leaf spring in one directionfrom a normal position; a contact member carried by the supportingportion of the leaf spring; and common means for attaching the retardingspring and the contact member to the supporting portion.

22. A vibratory reed for a device having an electromagnet for actuatingthe reed in one direction, the resiliency of the reed permitting it tobend to store energy therein which effects movement of the reed in theopposite direction upon deenergization of the magnet comprising incombination; an elongated thin flat resilient member having an integralcenter portion formed between openings in said member, said member beingfixed at one end the other end with relatively great magnitude whenactuated in one direction by an electromagnet; a thin fiat U-shapedresilient member located on one side of the member with the arms thereofextending toward the free end of the elongated member and normallycontacting opposite sides of the elongated member defining the lowermostopening, said arms being effective to dampen the movement of saidelongated member only when said member has moved a predetermineddistance in the opposite direction; contact members located on each sideof the elongated member; and means for attaching the U-shaped member andcontacts to the central portion of the elongated member.

RAYMOND H. SULLIVAN.

